having listened

USAGE SUMMARY

"having listened" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
You can use it as an introductory phrase, especially when you want to emphasize that you heard something or that something was listened to before continuing on to the next point. For example, "Having listened to both sides of the argument, I believe that we should proceed with caution."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Having listened to the whole thing, I don't.

The Guardian

Having listened to the first one, I think that's unlikely.

The Guardian

Naturally most broadsheet reviewers, not having listened, absolutely hated it.

The Guardian

Having listened to their grievances and understood their problems, its time to start offering solutions.

Columbia University

Having listened to the debate, I was surprised that figure was so high.

The Guardian

Having listened to him, and read Saturday's Washington Post article on the topic, indeed I don't.

The Guardian - Opinion

Having listened to landscape archeologist Tony Johnson's talk at Hay, I think I got this right.

The Guardian - Opinion

Having listened patiently, she finally told him: "Ken, there is no constituency for change".

The Guardian

Senator Obama admits to having listened to Wright's tapes while at Harvard Law School.

The New York Times

Having listened to them, I must conclude that they're all horrendous".

The Guardian - Music

Having listened to argument from both sides, they concluded that she was not.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "having listened", ensure the subject of the sentence is the one who performed the listening. This maintains grammatical clarity and avoids confusion.

Common error

Avoid using "having listened" in a way that creates a dangling modifier. For example, instead of "Having listened intently, the speech was inspiring", write "Having listened intently, I found the speech inspiring" to make it clear who did the listening.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "having listened" functions as a participial phrase, serving as an adjective that modifies the subject of the main clause. It indicates a completed action of listening that has relevance to the subsequent statement. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples from various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

13%

Science

13%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "having listened" is a grammatically sound and versatile participial phrase frequently employed to introduce a statement that follows a period of listening and consideration. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across diverse domains, from news and media to academic and scientific publications. When using this phrase, ensure that the sentence structure clearly indicates who performed the act of listening to avoid ambiguity. While alternatives like "after hearing" or "upon listening" exist, "having listened" provides a distinct emphasis on the completed action and its direct influence on the subsequent statement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

having heard

This alternative is very similar, but emphasizes the completion of the act of hearing.

after listening to

This alternative is a more explicit and slightly less formal way of expressing the same idea.

after hearing

This alternative focuses on the act of hearing something before a subsequent action or thought.

once having heard

This alternative adds emphasis to the completion of the act of hearing before something else happens.

once I heard

This alternative introduces a temporal aspect, emphasizing that something was heard at a specific point in time.

upon listening

This alternative uses a more formal register, indicating that the act of listening prompted a certain outcome.

after considering

This alternative shifts the focus from purely listening to actively considering what was heard.

on listening to

This alternative indicates a direct consequence or reaction stemming from the act of listening.

on hearing

This option offers a concise way to express the immediate impact of hearing something.

with the benefit of listening

This alternative highlights the advantage gained from listening, suggesting a more thoughtful consideration.

FAQs

How can I use "having listened" in a sentence?

"Having listened" typically introduces a clause that explains a subsequent action or thought, for example, "Having listened to all arguments, I have made my decision".

What are some alternatives to "having listened"?

You can use alternatives like "after hearing", "once I heard", or "upon listening" depending on the context.

Is it correct to start a sentence with "having listened"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to start a sentence with "having listened", as it functions as a participial phrase modifying the subject of the main clause.

What's the difference between "having listened" and "after listening"?

"Having listened" implies a completed action that directly influences the following statement, while "after listening" simply indicates a sequence of events. They are often interchangeable, but "having listened" can add a stronger sense of cause and effect.